Aberdeen servers hit in Saipem cyber-attack

Italian oil services firm Saipem has confirmed that a major cyber-attack targeting the firm hit servers in Aberdeen.

Monday’s attack prompted the Milan-based firm to take swift action, such as “impact assessment measures”.

Saipem has confirmed tonight that the cyber-attack hit servers in Aberdeen, India and the Middle East, with some servers attacked in Italy.

The company said the issue caused it to cancel “data and infrastructures”.

A spokeswoman for Saipem said: “With reference to the press release of December,10 2018, Saipem reports that the cyber attack hit servers based in the Middle East, India, Aberdeen and, in a limited way, Italy through a variant of Shamoon malware.

“The attack led to the cancellation of data and infrastructures, typical effects of malware.

“The restoration activities, in a gradual and controlled manner, are under way through the back-up infrastructures and, when completed, will re-establish the full operation of the impacted sites.

“Saipem continues liaising with the competent authorities for any appropriate action.”

Saipem was involved in the construction phase for the Statoil’s Hywind floating wind farm project off Peterhead last year using the Saipem 7000 crane vessel.

It also participated in the construction of Orsted’s Hornsea project off the Yorkshire coast in 2018.